Automatic stop for phonographs



1927' 1-1. F. SPENGLER AUTOIATIC STOP FQk PHONOGRAPKS Filed Jan. 2 192:s Sheets-Shoot 1 1,613 9 H. F. SPENGLER 14 AUTOIAT IC STOP FORPHONOGRAPHS I Filed Jan. 22 1925: 3 Sheets-Shut 2 a 1 H. F. SPENGLERAUTOMATJ IC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS s Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Jan. 22 1925 all) Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

nsrrso STATES HUGO F. SPENGLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Application filed January This invention relates to improvements. inautomatic stops for phonographs and consists of the matters hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and positivemechanism which will automatically stop the rotation of the turn tablewhen the last groove of the record being played is reached by thestylus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic stop whichneed not be set with reference to the record and which will stop therotation of the turn table when the last groove thereot' about the titlespace of the record has been reached, no matter what its diameter may beand no matter whether the same be concentric or eccentric.

Still another object of the invention to so arrange the various partsthereof beneath the motor board, that none of said parts are visible oreasily accessible for tampering therewith.

These objects oi the invention as Well as others, together with the manyadvantages thereof will more fully appear as 1 proceed with myspecification.

la the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view or" disc record phonograph embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scaleol my improved mechanismwhich is arranged beneath the motor board of the phonograph. V p i Fig.is an enlarged View of parts shown in Fig. 2, with some of said parts ina changed relation.

Fig. l is a detail vertical section on an enlarged scale as taken. onthe line -;t l of Fig. 2.

F ig. is a vertical detail sectional. view on the line of Fig. 3 andshows the brake shoe and trip mechanism therefor.

Figs. 6 and T are detail. views in perspective of parts of areciprocating pawl or dog embodied in my improved mechanism and whichwill be more fully referred to later.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view as taken on the line 8-8 ofFig. 2.

Figs. 9. l0 and 11 are oetail perspective 22, 1925. Serial No. 4,116.

views oi several of the parts embodied in my improved mechanism andwhich will be more fully referred to later.

Fig. 12 is a detail view showing the parts for resetting the brake shoeafter having been tripped to stop the turn table.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustratedin the accompanyingdrawings 1 indicates the top wall or motor board of aphonograph cabinet beneath which is arrai 'ed the usual motor. a part 2of which is shown in Fig. 2. Said motor is adapted to drive an uprightspindle 3 pon which is mounted the turn table or support 4 for a soundrecord or disc 5, the last sound groove of which terminates at or nearthe boundary or periphery of the usual title space at the centerot'records of this kind.

(3 indicates the tone arm of the phono graph which is mounted at one endby means of a'. ball joint 7 in a socket 8 fixed to the motor board sothat said arm may swing in a horizontal plane and also in a short are ina vertical. plane. The other end of the tone arm which is adapted tooverhang the turn table carries a reproducing sound box 9 adapted toreceive the usual stylus 10 for engagement in the sound grooves 01? therecord. In the playing of a record, as the stylus follows the soundgroove, the sound box caused to swing gradually inward on an arc towardthe-center ot' the record. After the record has been played and stoppedas will later appear, the sound box end is lifted upwardly from therecord and may then be swung in areverse direction about the ball andsocket joint parts 7 and 8 as an axis so as to be positioned beyond theturn table. The record just played may then be removed and replaced bythe next record ClBSllQ-C. to be played.

FiXed to one side of the frame or the motor 2, below the motor board ortop wall is a horizontally disposed plate ill which includes a lateralextension 152 and a part 13 which extends toward the axis of tone arm 6.Spaced below said plate part 13 and supported therefrom by posts i l-14is a bar 15 which is substantially parallel with said plate art 13. Thefree'end of g ei-3,914

the flat bar the plate part and to said end of said bar is pivoted anopen sector-like frame 16 by means of a pin or screw 17 so that saidframe may swing in a horizontal plane. Said frame includes angular-l}:disposed side bars 1(3-lt5", the outer ends of which are connected by anarcuale. internal racl; bar 16. ()n the side bar ill nears its outer endis provided a bracket which includes a part it? spaced above the arm'16". As the frame 16 is capable of a. horizontal swinging movement, 1provide an arcuale or curved arm '15" which extends laterally from thetint bar 17 to form the support for the racl; bar part of said frame.

Swinging movement in a horizimtal plane is imparted to the frame 16 byn'ieans of an arm 18 n'rovable with the tone arm and ar ranged below themotor board 1.. This arm has pivoted to its outer end one end of a lever19 by means of a horizontalv pin 20 so that said lever and arm arecapable of a limited relative vertical movement. al.- though said leverwill always move horizontally with said arm. The outer end of said lever19 is bent to extend into the horizontal plane of the open frame 16 sothat said outer end will engage the rack bar part of said frame whensaid lever swings in one direction and will impart a swinging movementto said frame in the same direction. Said lever has a laterallyextending hook 19 which overhangs the member 16" of said frame beneaththe bracket 16. This book is made comparatively long so that a certainamount of lost motion of the lever 19 is provided for before it posiively actnates said open frame 16. This lost motion between the parts isof utility because it permits the tone arm to be swung inwardly to bringthe stylus into playing' position with the starting groove of the recordwhen the same is one of the larger records without imparting movement tothe open frame. llowever. should the record be one of the smaller onessay a ten inch record, then the lever 19 will actuate the frame and movethe same a distance which will compensate for tne difference indiameters of the records being; played. When the tone arm is given aslight vertical ntovement as when removing it from a played record, thelever 19 will swing about the pivot 20 and the engagement of the hoolr19 under the bracket 16 will prevent complete separation between theparts.

(in the free end part of the plate part 13 is fixed a bifurcated bracket2i in which a block 22 is pivoted for movement about a vertical axis orpin 23. To said block is pivoted one end of an open frame 2% by means ofa horizontal pin 23 so that s it frame is capable of movement in both ahorizontal and a vertical plane. This open extends beyond the end offran'ie which is positioned above the plate 13 com rises. as shown inFig. 10, side arms .2l2 -l-", the outer ends oi which are conneited by acrossbar portion which is arranged in a plane above that of said arms.Said bar 25 is provided between its ends with ratchet teeth 25 and isprovided at that end connected to the arm 21-" with an extension ortooth 25".

Journallcd in the plate part 13 and in the [lat bar 15, between theposts l-lll is an upright shaft 26 which is also arranged between theside arms al -42s" of the frame 2i. Said shaft. as shown in Figs. 8 andS). is provided ne r its bottom end with a pinion 26 and at its top endwith a wheel or disc 2 The pinion 136 is adapted to be engaged y andmesh with the rack bar part it? o the on die 'raine 16. The wheel ordisc 2? end of the shaft 26 is arrange between the planes of the of theframe 2i and lid (h c :s of such a diameter that it. overhangs the armsi'lil:--Q-l" and projects under the rack bar part 2.3 so thrii saidracl' bar nornjlally l:c s or rests upon the peripheral part of saiddisc.

A bell cranl-z lever 27 (see Fig. ll) is .vot rjl on a vertical pin 28fixed in the ate part 13. a bracket 29 (see Fig. 8) which is fixed tothe underside of tie plate part 5-3 holding the some in desired positionrelave thereto. Said bell crank lever comses two parts QQ QQ" which arepivoted =t icr at 29 and may be looked together the desired relativeposition by means of a screw and slot construction 29 as best shown inFig. 11. The lever part F29 includes an upright stud 29 which is adaptedto engage one edge of the side bar 24!? of the frame 2 1;. said partsbeiri: normally held in engagement by men. .s o a spring 30 con nectingthe plate part 1.3 with the ever arm part 29'. The other lever arm part29 also includes an upright stud 29* which extends into the horizontalplare of the arm l8 rarred by the tone arm as before mentioned. d honthe arm 18 is spaced from or not er-- gagred with the stud 2W, the stud99 will under the action of the spring; 30 tend to swing; said frame ina clockwise direction. but when said arm 18 enga ed with said stud 29 asthe tone arm moves under action of the record. said stud 99 is helda\va. "'ron1 the rarne 2 even against the aciioirot the spr'ng Ill) sothat the motive action oi said pring discontinued.

h'lovcmcnt imparted to the frame in a counter clockwise direction bymeans of a pawl or dog mechanism 531. best shown in Figs. 3. l, 6 and 7.Said pawl or dog comprises an elongated reciprocating block 32 and ayieldable pawl member 13. The block has one end part v-l'iich overhangsa pinion B l journalled on an upright stud fixed in the member 11 andsaid end part 32 is connected to an eccentric pin 34 on said pinion sothat a reciprocating movement will be imparted to said block bytherotation of said pinion. Said pinion may be driven in any suitablemanner but in this instance I have shown the same as meshing with anddriven by a gear 36 driven by the motor 2. In the top surface of saidblock 32 is provided a recess 32 in which the pawl 33 has slidinghearing. A vertically extending slot 32 is also provided in said blockand opens into the recess 32. The pawl 33 is provided with twolongitudinally spaced slots 33 33 between its ends and 21V screw 37passes through the slot 33 of the pawl and through the slot 32 of theblock and is threaded into the member 11 before referred to so that inthe reciprocation of said block, a slight swinging movement is alsoimparted thereto. A pin 38 extends through the slot 33" and into theblock 32 and a spring 39 connects the pin 38 with a second pin 33 on oneend of the pawl 33, as best shown in Fig. 4. The other end of the pawlis provided with a tooth 33 which is adapted to coast with the teeth onthe cross bar of the frame 24.

That end of the block 32 below the tooth 33 is formed to provide a camportion 32 which in the forward reciprocation of the block 32 is adaptedto engage the bottom portion of the crossbar 25 and to lift the frame 2%upwardly about the pin 23 as an axis so that said block is elevated intoa plane above that of the disc or wheel 26" when said frame is moved bythe pawl 33 in a eounter-clocliwise direction. A stud 2& near thepivoted end of the frame, and carried on an adjustable bar 24 suitablysupported from the plate part i3, is adapted to he engaged by a fixedpart of the frame 22 to limit its clockwise movement either under theaction of the lever 27 or the disc The tooth 25" on the frame 2 l-isadapted to actuate a braking mechanism for stopping the rotation of theturntable and such a nisn'i is as follows:-Depending from portion 12 ofthe plate 11 is a bracket ll) to which a brake lever 41 is pivoted at apoint between its ends, as best'shown in The top or longer arm ol saidlever extends upwardly through a slot l2 in said portion 12 and on theextreme top end of said arm is carried a brake shoe 41 usually ofleather and which is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from theusual depending flange l on the turntable. The bottom and shorter end ofthe brake lever carries a laterally extending stud 41" with which alatch 42 on a bell crank trip lever 42 is normally engaged. Said triplever is pivoted at 43 on the bracket and its long; arm 42" extendsupwardly into the plane of and adjacent the tooth 25 on the frame 24.

A contractile coiled spring connects the long arm -12 of the trip leverwith the screw by means of whic the brake lever is pivoted to thebracket 40 and said spring normally acts to hold the latch 42 of thetrip lever in engagement with the stud 41* on said brake lever. A secondcontractile coiled spring connect-s the short arm of the brake lever llwith a pin or screw d6 on the bracket 40 which spring normally tends tourge the brake shoe ll into braking engagement with the turntableflange, said tendency being resisted or held in check by the latch 42*of the trip lever. After the brake lever is released and has engaged theturn table flange 4 to stop the turn table. it may be reset by means ofan L-shaped lever l7 vhich, as best shown in Fig.12 arranged on top ofthe motor board 1.

Assume that a record has been placed upon the turntable whichv ofcourse, is being driven or rotated under the action of the motor 2. Thesound box is manipulated to bring the stylus into engagement with thestarting groove of the record. As the tone arm is caui'ed to swinginwardly toward the center of the record, the arm 18 and lever 1%)attached thereto will also swing in the same direction. During theplaying of the record and the movement of the tone arm, as beforementioned, the block 32 is, of course, reciprocated and at the same timegiven a b cl; and forth swinging movement by the pinion In this movementof said block its cam end 32 will engage under the cross bar 25 of theframe and will lift it off of the wheel or disc 26 and simultaneouslytherewith the yielding pawl 33 will engage one of the teeth 25 on thebar 25 of the frame 2st and will more it the distance of about two teeth25 toward the trip lever 42 but not into engagement therewith. As theblocgi 32 recedes and the pawl 33 is withdrawn, the cross arni again islowered and is returned to its ()I'lglHI il position by the action ofthe pring actuated lever 27 because of the I1f3j C I unit of the studs29 thereof with the ride member 2d" of the frame2t. The return movementof the frame is limited by the stop 24 before mentioned. hen the tonearm has ifzwung inwardly far enough to on use the en- Q'Gll'leht of theouter end of the lever 111.) with the adjacent corner of the open frameit further movement of said tone arm and lever will cause the fra. 1.6to more in a clockwise direction and impar'" a line move-- ment to thewheel or disc E "K "ii lien this condition occurs. the disc as" will askthe return movement of the frame by reason of the frictional engagementof the crol-isbzir 25 on the marginal part of the disc. When the arm 18engages the stud 29 of the bell crank lever 27, it will act to swing thesaid lever about its pivot 28 so that the stud 29 moves away from theframe and is held in this position against the action of the spring 30.'lhereafter, as long as movement is iin parted to the frame 16 by thelever 19. the wheel or disc alone acts by frictional engagement with thecross bar 25 to return the frame 2!: to its original position, Thus,each time the frame 2t is moved in one direction (counter clockwise) bythe pawl 33 it is returned in the other direction (clockwise) by thewheel or disc 26". By reason of the two part construction of the lever27. as be fore described, the relative position of the posts or studs QQZW may be changed so that the operation of said lever with reference toits disengagement from the frame may be accurately timed.

As long as the tone arm is moving inwardly under the action of thestylus following the sound groove of the record, the wheel or disc 26"is being continuously and evenly rotated by the open frame and when theframe 2st is moved in one direction by the pawl mechanism 31 it isreturned to its original position by said disc, the engagement betweenthe cross bar 24 and disc 5-26" being of such a duration as to insure aposi-.

tive return of the frame 24 by the frictional engagement between saidcross bar and disc, the former being made of steel and the latter ofbrass.

lVhen the stylus has reached the concentric groove about the title spaceof the record, the swinging movement of the tone arm is, of course,discontinued or ceases and when this occurs, said tone arm can impart nofurther movement to the frame 16 or disc or wheel 26 Thus. the pawlmechanism 31 is caused to lift the bar and feed it counterclockwise adistance equal to the throw of the pawl member Upon the withdrawal ofsaid pawl for its next reciprocation, the bar rests upon the nownonrotating disc and upon the next forward movement of the pawl. thetooth 25 engages the trip lever arm 42 and forces it outwardly, so thatits latch 4.2 releases the bottom end of the brake lever, which underthe action of the spring 4t?) swings the brake shoe end of the lever 41outwardly so that the brake shoe ll engages the turn table flange andstops the rotation of the same. lVhen the tone arm is lifted and swungin the opposite direction to clear the record so that the same may beren'ioved, the hook 19 will engage the member 16" of the frame 16 andreturn it to normal starting position. A new record is then placed uponthe turn table, and the lever 47 is actuated to reset the brake lever 41wit; reference to the trip lever. after which the turn table startsrotating and the stylus is then engaged in the starting groove of therecord and the operation is repeated. as before described.

It. is to be noted, that the tone arm in its swinging movement in onedirection is employed to actuate a part of the stop mechanism and thatthe motor itself actuates the other part of the mechanism.

Some records are provided near the title space with an eccentricallyarranged groove, the purpose of which is to actuate certain forms ofstops made especially for use in connection with such records. Suchstops are inoperative when used with records of the kind not providedwith such a groove so that the purchaser is limited to the use of onekind of a record only. My improved stop is operative no matter what typeof record is used. F or instance, should an eccentric record grooverecord be played the operation will be as follows :The stylus would beplaced in the starting groove in the usual manner and in the rotation ofthe record the tone arm will swing across the record until the lastactive sound groove is reached. Bis the stylus enters the eccentricgroove, the tone arm will swing over a distance equal to theeccentricity of said groove and then back again, the lost motionconnection provided by the hook 19 of the lever 19 being suflicient toaccommodate for said eccentricity without imparting a movement to thedisc or wheel 26 as the tone arm is swung back and forth by reason ofthe movement imparted to it through the said eccentric groove andstylus. Thus, with the disc 26" stationary or non-rotative the pawl 31is free to act in the manner before described to actuate the trip lever42 to release the brake. Thus, it is apparent that my improved stopmechanism is not dependent for its positive operation upon either aninitial or previous setting or upon the use of a particular kind of arecord.

Actual operation of the device shows that no appreciable drag is placedon the reco'd due to the actuation or movement of the pawl operated bythe tone arm. No matter what the diameter of the concentric groove aboutthe title space of the record being played may be, the rotation of therecord is stopped when the stylus reaches said groove.

The lever 27 is indeed of importance because should the recordbcingplayed be of such a diameter that when the stylus is placed in thestarting groove thereof and the lever 19 is out of engagement with tricframe 16, the said lever returns the frame 2st to its original positioneach time it is moved by the pawl mechanism 31. If no such means wereprovided, the frame bar part 25 would be caused to engage the trip levera2 and trip the brake shoe before the turn table was fairly started.

My improved stop, is positive and is of the non-set type; is simple inconstruction and is so arranged that the stop mechanism lit may bereadily assembled as a whole before being positioned in the phonograph.

lVhile indescribing my invention I have referred to certain details ofconstruction and arrangements of parts, the same is by way oiillustration only and I do not wish to be hunted thereto except as maybe pointed out in the a 'ipended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. An automatic stop for phonograph. embodying" therein in combinationwith a rotative record support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism forsaid support, means capable of an initial and final movement forartnating said brake actuating mechanism, means operable in the movementof the tone arm over the record for permitting only the iritial movementof said brake actuating mechanisnn and means operable when the tone armreaches the end of the record to permit the final movement the brakeactuat ng mechanism for stopping the rotation of said support.

2. An automatic stop for phonographs embodying therein in combinationwith a relative re ord support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism forsaid support means tor actuating said brake mechanism, means forinitially preventing operation of said brake actuating inechanisn'i.means for rendering a part of said initial preventing means inoperative,and other means preventing operation of said brake actuating means, saidother means becoming inoperative when the tone arm reaches apredetermined position, whereby said brake actuating mechanism operatesto stop rotation of said record support.

3. An automati stop for phonographs cn'ibodying therein in combinationwith a rotative record support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism forsaid support, means for actuating said brake mechanism, means forinitially preventing operation of said brake actuating mechanism, meansrendering a part of said initial preventing means inoperative, othermeans ope ative upon said part of said initial preventin means becominginoperative to maintain said initial preventing means operative, andmeans operative when the tone arm reaches a predetermined position topermit said brake actuating mechanism to complete its movement toactuate said brake to stop said rotating support.

4. An automatic stop for phonographs embodying therein, in combinationwith a rotative record support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism forsaid support, means for actuating said brake mechanism, means preventingcomplete operation of said brake actuating mechanism, a member carriedby the tone arm and engaging said last mentioned means when the tone armreaches a predetermined position, means operable when the tone armreaches said position to bring another means into operation to stillprevent complete operation of said brake actuating mechanism, and meansoperable when the tone arm reaches a second predetern'iincd position topermit complete 0 eratii'z-n of said brake etuating means.

An automatic stop for phonographs en'ibodyiug therein, in combinationwith a rotative record support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism forsaid support, reciprocating member adapted to actuate said brakemechanism, means for reciprocating said member in one direction toactuate said brake mechanism, a spring pressed lever and rotary memberacting to move said reciprocating member in the opposite directionbefore it reaches said mechanism, means 0perative when the tone armreaches a predetermined position to render said lever inoperativewithout affecting said rotary member, and means operable when the tonearm reaches a second predetermined position to render said rotary memberinoperative so that said reciprocating member engages and acL-uates saidbrake actuating mechanism.

in automatic stop for phonogaiphs embodying therein, in, combinationwith a rotative record support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism forsaid SUP-p011, a reciprocating member adapted to actuate said brakemechanism, means for reciprocating said member in one direction toactuate said brake mechanism a spring pressed lever and rotary memberacting to move said reciprocating member in the opposite directionbefore it reaches said mechanism, and means carried by and movable withthe tone arm for engaging and rendering said lever inoperative when saidtone arm reaches a predetermined position, without affecting said rotarymember, and means operable when the tone arm reaches a secondpredetermined position to render said rotary member inoperative so that,said reciprocating member engages and actuates said brake actuatingmechanism.

7. An automatic stop for phonographs embodying therein, in combinationWith a rotative record support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism forsaid support, a reciprocating member adapted to actuate said brakemechanism, means for reciprocating said member in one direction toactuate said brake mechanism, a spring pressed lever and rotary memberacting to move said reciprocating member in the opposite directionbefore it reaches said mechanism, an arm carried by and movable with thetone arm for engaging and rendering said lever inoperative when saidtone arm reaches a predetermined position, means interposed between saidarm and rotary member for imparting rotation thereto, and means operablewhen the tone arm reaches a second lid! predetermined position to stopfurther rotation of said rotary member so that said reciprocating memberengages with and actuates said brake actuating mechanism.

8. An automatic stop for phonographs embodying therein, in combinationwith a rotative record support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism forsaid support, a recip rocating member adapted to actuate said brakemechanism, means for reciprocating said member in one direction toactuate said brake mechanism, a spring pressed lever and rotary memberacting to move said reciprocating member in the opposite directionbefore it reaches said mechanism, an arm carried by and movable with thetone arm for engaging and rendering said lever inoperative when saidtone arm reaches a predetermined position, means including a lost motionconnection between said arm and rotary member for imparting rotation tosaid rotary member, said means becoming inoperative when the tone armreaches a second predetermined position so that said reciprocatingmember engages with and actuates said brake actuating mechanism.

9. In a device of the kind described, the combination of an open framehaving a rack bar at one end and a universal joint at its other end, arotary member adapted to normally engage under said rack bar, a pawlmechanism adapted to engage said rack bar to impart a movement in onedirection thereto and to simultaneously elevate the same from saidrotary member, said rack bar at the end of the stroke of said pawl againengaging said rotary member and being returned to its starting positionthereby.

10. In a device of the kind described, the combination of an open framehaving a rack bar at one end and a universal joint at its other end, arotary member adapted to normally engage under said rack bar, means forimparting a predetermined number of rotations to said rotary member, apawl mechanism adapted to engage said rack bar to impart a movementthereto and to simultaneously elevate the same from said rotary member,said rack bar at one end of the stroke of said pawl again engaging saidrotary member and being returned thereby to its starting position, saidpawl feeding the rack bar forwardly a greater distance after therotation of sait rotary member has ceased.

11. An automatic stop for phonographs comprising in combination with arecord support, a tone arm and a brake mechanism for said support, meansfor actuating said braiie mechanism comprising an oscillatable frame,means for moving said frame in one direction, a lever movable with saidtone arm for moving said frame in the other direction, a rotative disc,means for driving said disc and for rendering said lever inoper ve afterwhich said disc acts to move said frame in the said other direction,said rotative disc becoming inoperative when the tone arm reaches apredetermined position so that said first mentioned means may operatesaid brake mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto my hand, this 13th day of January,1925.

PTUGO F. SPENGLER.

